Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2018
239. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the public display of the Enniscorthy flood defence scheme will proceed on 28 May 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21397/18]
View answer240. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when public consultation for the Enniscorthy flood defence scheme will take place; the position regarding the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21400/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
The River Slaney (Enniscorthy) Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in conjunction with Wexford County Council. The Scheme has been provided for in the OPW multi-annual Capital Expenditure Budgets, and is one of the major schemes to be funded from the €940 million allocation for flood relief capital investment under the National Development Plan 2018-27.
Consultants Mott Mc Donald are leading the design engineers of the flood defences element, with Roughan O’Donovan commissioned to design the proposed new road bridge. The existing Seamus Rafter bridge is a contributing factor to flooding in Enniscorthy and must be removed to ensure the success of the scheme. A replacement road bridge will be constructed just downstream of the town (crossing over the existing playground), and a new pedestrian bridge will be constructed in the area of the Seamus Rafter bridge.
Initial site investigations have been completed, along with archaeological and ecological assessments and reports. An advance programme to control and eradicate invasive species of vegetation is currently underway. Further advance construction elements which involve relocation of services and utilities along the Promenade are expected to commence in 2018.
A briefing to update members of Wexford County Council will take place in Enniscorthy on May 21, and following this, a public information display of the scheme will take place on 11th June. Following this, the scheme design and Environmental Impact Assessment Report (and other relevant reports) will be made available to the public through the statutory Exhibition process. All submissions received during this statutory consultation process will be assessed, and designs may be amended as a result. Subsequently, formal Confirmation or approval for the scheme will be sought from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, with construction expected to start in mid to late 2019.
